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A lovely pair of sandals

As soon as the weather turns ever so slightly warm there are plenty of people who will suddenly start to wear flip flops, sandals and the like. I for one will wait until Summer has officially started before wearing flip flops etc but it doesn't stop me from buying new pairs in the spring! Throughout the summer months I will wear this type of footwear nearly everyday as I do find wearing a pair of flip flops far more comfortable than wearing say a pair of boots. However, despite owning quite a few pairs of this sort of style I can't help myself but buy more every year as the range of styles from various brands change and well, I just can't help myself!

Conveniently Nine West started there sale quite a few weeks back if not a few months and being a brand that I love I have regular updates via email. Whilst having a browse in their summer sale I came across a pair of sandals called 'Walk Hard' which come in either taupe or black. Walk Hard were originally priced at £95.00 which for a sandal is certainly quite pricey for most people but in their sale were heavily reduced to just £29.00! Eager to grab them at this bargain price I quickly bought them and I opted for the taupe version rather than the black as I just preferred the look of the taupe and it's a classy colour which goes with most of my clothing.

Now Nine West Walk Hard seem to be a versatile type of sandal. Ideal for both casual day wear to smart evening wear (say skinny jeans and a nice top). Apart from the fact that I think they look absolutely lovely the fact that they could be worn for more than one purpose was a seller to me as I do own quite a lot of shoes which serve one purpose so these for me were a good buy. And yes although I didn't particularly need them I work hard for my money and after everything else is paid for I quite like a nice treat for myself - well who doesn't?!

Walk Hard is a gorgeous sandal made up of intricate leather strap detailing. It almost comes in two sections, the first being the part that fits over the front of your foot whilst being able to show off your toes and the second being the part covering your ankle and keeping your foot firmly in the shoe itself. Of course for the price of £95.00 I'd expect the strap detail to be leather and it certainly is. Nine West don't skimp on the leather and it is always good quality and very well made. Despite being new I found the leather to be soft and supple especially the part of the strap which lies against your skin which is nice as it wouldn't rub - hopefully. They are a toe-post style sandal so if you don't like the piece that goes between your toes then these won't be suitable.

The sandals have a colour co-ordinating gold zip at the back which does up easily and is nearly concealed completely as well as a matching gold buckle which does up around your leg - this can be adjusted depending on whether you want to have them loose or quite tight around your leg. The buckle really does give the sandals a bit of cuteness but being on a leather strap it will stretch a little so you may find that you eventually have to adjust the hole you originally use. The zip is full length of the back of the shoe which certainly does make them easy to get on and off especially when sandals can be fiddly the intricate strap detailing isn't the most helpful when trying to get them on and off. On the inside the zip is concealed so it doesn't rub against your skin.

The sole of the shoes are made from a synthetic material almost like a cross between leather and something far more durable ideally suited for a sole of a shoe. In the footbed of the sandals does have a small amount of padding which is quite nice for your feet as it does provide a little comfort ideal for when you are wearing them on a warm day and sometimes your feet can ache. However, despite this the sandals don't really offer much support around your feet so if you indeed of a pair of sandals to offer support then these probably won't be the best choice to make. However, the part of the sandal which goes around your ankle and is fastened by the zip and buckle does keep your feet firmly in the sandals.

I have had my pair for a little over a month now and they have been worn on a variety of occasions whether during the day walking around town or wearing on an evening. I have a tendency when I have a new pair of shoes to wear them a lot when I first have them as it's a novelty having a new pair so they do have to last. When I first wore them they were comfortable as the leather is already nice and soft and supple but what I did notice is that my little toe was rubbed a little which although it wasn't painful after a few hours wearing them it did start to get a bit uncomfortable when walking around in them. I don't know whether this was just a combination of the heat and wearing a pair of new shoes.

Determined that these bargain sandals were going to be comfortable I have kept wearing them and I am pleased to say that the leather has given a little around my toes so they don't rub at all. So maybe they are quite a narrow fitting and although I don't have wide feet I would say I have a normal size width these are probably more suited to those with narrow feet or if like me you wear them a few times until the leather gives a little. Now despite being constantly worn the leather doesn't soften too much so it doesn't loose the shape of the sandal or look too worn. Obviously being made of leather they can be kept in good condition by being treated with a leather care product which is what I do especially when the leather is of such good quality I want to keep it that way!

Overall, I really do like these sandals and not because I managed to buy a bargain but I like their intricate style and the fact that they can be dressed up or dressed down making them quite versatile. If they have your size available and you are wanting a well made pair of sandals to last you quite some time then these should definitely be considered. I will be awarding them 4 stars simply knocking off 1 star as they don't offer much support for the foot and they are quite a narrow fitting so won't be suitable for all.

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Brand: Nine WestPrice: Was £95.00 Now £29.00Colour(s): Black or TaupeSizes: 3 to 9